The former soldier, who lives near Spaldwick, is to haul his 250kg Aga, affectionately known as Agatha, for 160 miles from Staffordshire to London.

His Great Aga Run is raising funds for the Afghanistan Trust, which supports Parachute Regiment soldiers who have served in Afghanistan and their families.

The father-of-two said: “This is probably going to be my hardest year yet.

“I have a great team supporting me who are like-minded people in supporting the Afghanistan Trust and the Parachute Regiment.”

The challenge starts at the National Memorial Arboretum, near Lichfield, where a pegasus memorial for the regiment was unveiled in 2012.

They set off on September 1 –having originally planned to complete the challenge in June – and aim to make it to London in nine days.

Alongside Mr Digby will be Paul Milson, who, as well as being a running partner, is the brake man who makes sure the oven does not crash into anything.

“The team have taken on this challenge to honour the sacrifice our soldiers have made during the Afghanistan campaign along with their families and loved ones,” added Mr Digby.

“The Parachute Regiment has been continually deployed during the Afghanistan campaign and this sadly has impacted greatly on the numbers of the regiment who have given their lives, been seriously injured or will suffer mentail injuries for many years to come.”

In 2010, Mr Digby ran the London Marathon carrying a fridge and in 2011 completed the same event carrying a washing machine.

Last year, organisers of the London event said he could not run with his Aga, so he and Mr Milson ran with mock Agas on their backs before taking the real thing around the Essex and Halstead Marathon course, all raising thousands of pounds for the trust.